Niagara Falls History Museum Being Expanded
May 21, 2010
Stimulus funding will create jobs, boost local economy
The tourism experience in the Niagara Region is being enhanced with the revitalization of the Niagara Falls History Museum.
The museum is a historic site in the Niagara Region offering tourists a unique opportunity to learn about the war of 1812. Breaking ground today, improvements to museum include:
- upgrades and an expansion to the existing Niagara Falls History Museum to provide an additional 9,870 square feet of area, increasing the total area of the museum to over 18,000 square feet
- creating a new visitor centre that will include a War of 1812 exhibition showcasing a nationally-significant collection of artifacts and an 80-seat theatre space for new educational opportunities
- improvements to make the museum fully accessible
"Revitalizing historical sites like the Niagara Falls History Museum into tourist destinations of choice is part of the McGuinty government's five-year Open Ontario plan to build a stronger and more vibrant economy. This project will stimulate Niagara's economy by creating jobs during construction and support its tourism industry by attracting new visitors, especially as we near the War of 1812's Bicentennial," said Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.
"Lundy's Lane is an important tourist draw that contributes to the economic prosperity of our region and tells important local heritage stories. Improving this attraction is about growing our local tourism industry, creating more jobs for the future and ensuring that the history is preserved for future generations," said Kim Craitor, MPP for Niagara Falls
"Thanks to the support of the provincial and federal governments, the expansion of the Lundy's Lane Historical Museum will serve as a catalyst for development in our historic Drummondville area and pay tribute to the rich history of the War of 1812. We encourage visitors to explore our rejuvenated and innovative legacy project at the Niagara Falls History Museum," said Ted Salci, Mayor of Niagara Falls.
The Governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing more than $3.2 million to the Niagara Falls History Museum project through the Building Canada Fund - Communities Component.
This investment is part of nearly $1.8 billion in provincial investments in the Niagara Region since 2003. These infrastructure investments will help stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and enhance the overall prosperity of Ontarians.
In February 2009, the Ontario and federal governments announced a joint investment of over $700 million in 291 communities through the first intake of the Building Canada Fund Communities Component. Together with municipal contributions, the total investment in local infrastructure improvements through intake one will exceed $1 billion.
Niagara Falls History Museum - formerly known as the Lundy's Lane Historical Museum -was built in 1874 and is home to the one of the most significant collections of War of 1812 artifacts in the world.
Learn More
Learn how the Government of Ontario is helping to build and revitalize infrastructure across the province.
Discover more about Niagara Falls History Museum Project.
Interested in finding out more about a project near you? Check out Ontario's new infrastructure website.
Contacts
Amy Tang
Minister's Office
416-327-6747
Anne Smith
Communications Branch
416-327-7226